After “an emergency button was activated,” all available Daytona Beach police officers are heading to Mainland High School, according to the agency.
The response was announced by Daytona Beach police on Twitter on Friday afternoon.
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“We are responding to a call at Mainland High School, an emergency button was activated. We have all available Officers in the city on scene investigating, no reports of injuries, no other info at this time. Please avoid the area,” the post stated.
According to a tweet from the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, they are helping Daytona Beach police “clear Mainland High.”
There have been no reports of shots being fired or injuries, the Daytona Beach Police Department reported on social media.
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As a precaution, officers are “cleaning each room, one at a time,” according to the tweet.
“We’re currently investigating a panic alarm at Mainland High School in reference to a gun threat. NO SHOTS HAVE BEEN FIRED AND THERE ARE NO REPORTED INJURIES. We are still clearing the school to ensure everyone’s safety,” Daytona Beach Police Chief Jakari Young tweeted.
While this event is being investigated, police stated they will close a section of International Speedway Boulevard near Clyde Morris Boulevard.
One day before this incident, a chair toss at Winter Springs High School sent students into a state of terror. A 16-year-old student was brought into custody when the sound of the chair breaking glass was mistaken for a probable gunshot.
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Later, Daytona Beach police said no threat was found at the school. Police Chief Jakari Young said a teacher heard a student say the word “gun” and pressed the emergency button.
“When she heard ‘gun,’ she hit the panic button, which is exactly what she should have done,” Young said, according to WFTV 9.
Daytona Beach police issued a statement saying: “All rooms and buildings have been cleared. Nothing located. At this point it appears to be a false alarm and no threat to the school or the students. The roadway will remain closed for a short time while we clear the scene.”
Volusia County Schools released the following statement:
“Today, a Mainland HS security staff member used their Centegix security badge to place the school on lockdown. This happened during “A” lunch after students reacted to a rumor of a gun on campus. As soon as the lockdown was in effect, all students were safely placed in secured rooms. Law enforcement together with VCS Security Operations began to clear the school room-by-room. Presently, all rooms have been cleared and the threat has been deemed unsubstantiated. At this time the lockdown has been lifted, and students are being released to their school busses or reunited with parents.”